Heel for boots and shoes



Nov. 22, 1927.

J. E. GRQSJEAN HEEL Fon BooTs AND snoss Filed Dec.

IIIIIIIWIIIINIUH TIE. E

INIT 4 @nue nto@ atto: nu,

Patented Nov. 2,2, 1927.

UNITED NsTiiTEs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. GROSJEAN. OF LIMA, R10.

HEEL FOB BOOTS AND SHQES.

'llie present invention relates to improvements in heels for boots and shoes, and more particularly to those of the class embodying textile or fibrous material and rub- 6 ber in their composition.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved heel made from scraps or trimmings of cord and fabric tire stock which have been heretofore dis- Vl() carded or sold as waste by rubber tire manufacturers, und which` if reclaimed, required destroying the cord threads of textile material to enable reclaiming of the rubber friction. Such recover processes, therefore, destroyed the essentia elementsI propose using in making the improved heel, as the textile material contained by such is capable of affording the highest Wearing qualities and true non-sli properties, and the present invention enables such waste or by-product to be utilized in the production of heels which )ossess advantages not possessed in heels as iieretofore constructed and produced from other materials. l 26 Novel and improved heels of this class comprise a tread-forming body composed of textile cords, threads or lfibers which are bonded or vulcanized together with rubber and most of which are laid or strewn in the 30 same direction in such body and so that the ends of such cords, threads or fibers are presented to the wear surface of the heel. A super osed body composed of textile cords, three s or fibers which also are bonded or vulcanized to ether with rubber, and most of which are aid or strewn in the same di-4 rection in such body so that they extend substantially parallel to the wear surface of the heel may be employed in addition to the tread-forming body, the two bodies being vulcanized together. A heel constructed in this way will possess great wear-resisting properties, due to the presentation of the ends of the cords threads or fibers of the tread-forming body to the wear surface of the heel, and when the superposed body is employed` the heel may be readily and securel attached to the boot or shoe by nails whic may be driven at any suitable or desired points through the lower and superposed bodies so that the heads of the nails lie against the under side of the superposed body, the nail heads `bein Apresented to the sides of the cords, threa s 'or fibers of the superposed body, and, hence, strains tending to pull the heel from the boot or shoe will act transversely of the lengths of such cords,

4threads or fibers, and such strains will be thus eectivel resisted thereby.

Another obJect of the invention is to provide a heel of this kind which will possess cushioning properties, for which pu ose, the upper side of the heel is formed with a cavit which rmits the portion of the heel within its periphery to yield, and thus afford comfort and avoid shock to the wearer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a heel having a true non-slip wear surface, the same being produced b the use of cord 'threads intermixed 'with ictioned rubber, the cord threads being presented to the wear surface throughout the entire area of the heel. the ends of the cotton twisted cords constitutin one of the best known non-slip materia s, and all the cords or threads being bonded or vulcanized together with rubber, the heel thus produced providing sure footing and safety to the wearer on wet and icy sidewalks.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combina. tions and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty bein pointed out particularly in the claims at t e end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a bottom plan view of a heel constructed in accordance with the present invention, this fi re showing the preferred form of the treausurface thereof;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the heel;

Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section through the heel, taken on the line 3-3 of Fi re 1;

igure 4 represents a transverse section through the heel taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the heel as viewed from its under side, this figure showing a portion of the margin of .the heel detached to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fi re 3 showing the invention applied to a ha f heel;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 also showing the invention applied to a half heel: and

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the heel as shown in Figures 6 and 7, this figure illustrating another form of tread surface that may be used.

Similarpparts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The present invention is applicable to either whole or half heels and such heels may be used upon the various classes of boots and shoes, such, for example, as sport, golf and Workmens boots and shoes where great wear-resisting properties are desirable, athletic shoes where resilience, pliability and non-sli ping properties are desired, or shoes for or inary wear wherein some or all of these properties are desirable. The preferred embodiment of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawin and will be hereinafter described in detail. It will be understood, however, that the inven tion is not restrictedA to the precise embodiments shown, as equivalent structures are contemplated, and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

The heel, according to the present embodiment of the invention comprises a lower tread portion or body, designated 1 in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and l*` in Figures 6 and 7, and a superposed or upper body, designated 2 in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and 2a in Figures 6 and 7. These two bodies comprising the major portion of the heel are each composed of a material which consists of textile cords, threads or fibers, most of'which are arranged in the same direction in such material, andthe cords threads or fibres are impregnated with and covered by a vulcanizable substance, preferably friction, such as is used in the cord tire industry for vulcanizing together the plies of cords or fabrics in tires. This material is preferably repared substantially in the manner set florth fully in my prior application Serial No. 722,552, filed June 26, 1924, reference being made to that application for a detailed descri tion of the preferred method of preparing t e material. It may be briefly stated, however, that this material is prepared preferably from remnants or scraps of cord or fabric tire material such as 1s produced in the tire manufacturing industry by -trimming the cord or fabric stock applied to the tire molds. This cord or fabric stock is usuallygum dipped and impre lated with the highest quality of so-called friction r`which is the highest grade rubber cement in an uncured condition, and also the cord or fabric stock is frictioned and skim-coated with a high grade of uncured rubber. Masses of scraps or trimmings of such cord or fabric material, which are ordinarily waste material in tire manufacturing plants, are first passed through a cracker such as that used in tire factories, after which the material is passed through a mill having smooth-faced rolls, the effect of the passage of the material through the cracker and the mill being to rca-arrange the promiscuously extending cords, threads or bers so that they all, or the most of themvextend in substantially the same direction.`

-material thus prepared may then be forced through a so-called tube machine, such as that Acommonly' used in plants producing rubber products, thus producing a strip of material which has a cross-section corresponding substantially with the' outline of the heel in plan, this strip of material having the cords, threads or fibers extending longitudinally thereof. Sections 0f the strip may be eut olf to form the tread bodies l or l, the cutting of these bodies from the strip being on lines transverse to the lengths of the cords, threads or fibers. The upper or superposed bodies 2 or 2a when used to make up art of the depth of the heel may be forme directly from the sheet of material as it comes from the smooth-faced rolls, the cords, threads or fibers in such sheet extending substantially parallel with the two surfaces cf the sheet in the embodiment herein shown.

`It will be understood that most, if not all of the cords, threads or fibers, designated 3 in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and 3 in `Figures 6 and 7, extend perpendicularly or substantially so with respect to the tread surfacel or 4 of the heel. The cords, threads, or fibers 5 in the. superposed body as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 or 5 in Figures 6 and T extend parallel 'or substantially so with respect to the tread surface 4 or 4. 'lhe cords, threads or fibers in both bodies, las previously stated, are impregnated and mixed with uncured friction and high grade rubber which'was used as a skim-coatlng in the scraps or trimmings from which the material was prepared. The two bodies, 1 and 2, or 1* and 2, after having been cut to the appropriate size and shape, are super` posed and a margin 6 or 6, composed preferably of a rubber compound similar to that generally used in the making of ordinary rubber heels, is placed around the circumference of the superposed bodies 1 and 2 or 1 and 2. rI'he whole is then placed in a mold and cured, as is usually done in the manufacture of rubber heels. This curing operation vulcanizes the friction and rubber which impregnates and is mixed with the cords, threads or fibers of the bodies 1 and 2 or 1 and 2*, thereby securely bonding to-V gether these fibers and producing a material which possesses great wear-resisting prop-` erties. Furthermore, the curing operation vulcanizes together the bodies 1 and 2 or 1 and 2*, thus securely uniting them. In addition, the marginal strip 6 or 6a is vulcanized and it is firmly united with the remainder of the heel composed of the bodies 1 and 2 oi' 1* and 2a.

The tread of the heel may be plain or flat, Orlmay be formed with cleats 7, as slown in igure 1, heels of this type being particularly suitable for use on athletic shoes as a tread o this character with cord threads intermingled in the body of the heel will resist slippin even on wet grass, or the tread may be ormed with a series of annula r downwardly projecting ribs 8 which may be formed concentrically with nail-receiving holes 9. r

In either embodiment of the invention, 4the heel may be readily and securely attached to the boot or shoe bydrivin a suitable number of nails 10 upwardly t Vrough the lower body 1 or 1a and through the superposed or upper body 2 or 2a so that they enter and may be clinched in the shoe, the nails beingr driven until their heads 10 come against the under side of the superposed or upper body 2 or 2. By arranging the cords, threads or bers in this superposed or upper body 1 or l, whereby they extend arallel or substan tially so with res ect to t e tread surface of the heel, the nail eads will engage the cords, threads or fibers of the superposed body 2 or 2a in a direction transversely of the length of these cords, threads or fibers, the latter thereby offering increased resistance to the driving of the nails which will indicate to the workman that the nails have been driven to the proper depth, and, moreover, this increased resistance offered by the cords, threads or fibers of the super osed body and which extend transversely olf) the hails, af-

fords a 'very secure anchorave for the nail heads which will prevent pullin of the nail ody under heads through the superposed strains to w ich the heel is subjected while in use. It will be understood that any desired number of nailsma be driven to secure each heel, and that t ese nails may be driven simultaneous] or otherwise and at any desired points, a thou h in the form of tread shown in Figure 8, t e nails would be driven in the holes 9 formed in the centers Vof the annular projecting ribs 8.

The resent invention also provides means for a Ording cushioning pro erties to the heel whereby the portion of t `e heel within its margin may yield under the weight of the foot of the wearer, thus increasing the comfort of the wearer and affording other advantages. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, this cushioning effect may be obtained by deforming the superposed body 2 from a flat shape so as to form grooves or-recesses 11 and 12 in its up er surface, leaving a projection 13. This dieforming of the superposed body 2 may be effected during curing of the heel, by appropriately shaping the mold in which the heel is cured. Then the heel is applied to the sole 14 of theboot or shoe, the central portion, as well as the projection 13 of the heel, will be normally otlset below the lower side of the sole 14, but pressure exerted on the heel due to the weig t ot' the foot thereon will cause the )ortion of the heel within its margin to yield more or less in an upward direction or toward the under side of the sole 14, due to the recessing of the upper side of the heel which forms a cavity between it and the sole 14. `The 'rejection 13 will come into engagement wit the sole 14 when suilicient pressure is applied to the heel, thereby preventing undue distortion of the heel. A similar cushion is shown in Figures 6 and 7 wherein the portion of theV superposed body 2 within its margin is depressed or offset downwardly to form a recess 15 and a projection 16 is formed within this recess, the recessed portion of the heel permitting it to yield upwardly Funder the weight imposed thereon, and the projection 16 being arranged to abut against the heel li-ft 17 above it and thereby limit the amount of yield which will take place, thereby avoiding undue distortion of the heel.

As shown in F igs. 3 andfl, the center of the tread surface of the heelmay be arched, as indicated at 18. This arching enables the center of the heel to yield due to the hollow space above it, and said space being arched over with the cord fabric and rubber cured in that position. This arched portion of the heel `will rebound when released from pressure and will produce more cushioning action, and the'heel will not wear as rapidly in the center as it would if solid. Eventually, due to wear, the center of the heel will project or arch further below the edge. of the heel and will produce more cushioning action when nearly worn out 'than when the heel was new.

The material composin the tread-formling bod of the heel and a so the superposed body w en used consists mainly of textile cords, threads or fibers, there being suiiicient friction2 or rubber, however, to impregnate these cords, threads or fibers and thus render them tough and waterproof and to securely bind these cords, threads or fibers together. The material, when cured or vulcanized, in consequence, possesses great toughness, strength and wear-resisting and non-slip properties. The relatively short length loose or unwoven fibers or threads lying in the highly elastic friction do'not impair the resilience of the latter, especially as these fibers or threads are gum-dipped or frictionimpregnated, which renders them also resilient, and, hence, the tread-forming body of the heel provides a highl'y resilient cushion. By arranging the cords` threads or fibers in the tread-forming body so that they are presented endwise to th@ tread llll surface of the heel, the maximum Wearresisting properties of the material are utilized, and by arra-ngingthe cords, threads or h'bers in the upper' or superposed body, when used, so that they extend substantially parallel to the plane of the tread surface, secure anchorages for the attaching nails are provided which are capable of 'sustaining forces tending to pull the nail heads through the upper portion of the heel. Owing to the large proportion of textile material coinposing the heel, the weight of the heel is substantially less than that of the usual rubber heels. and in consequence they will be more comfortable, and they Will cause less fatigue to the wearer. i'

I claim as my invention 1. A heel for boots and shoes comprising a tread-forming body made from 're-claimed uncured tire material and composed of `loose textile fibers and friction, most of the fibers extending in the same direction in said body and presenting their ends to the tread surface thereof, the friction being vulcanized and thus uniting the fibers elastically.

2. A heel for boots and shoes comprising a tread-forming body composed ofA unwoven textile fibers and high-grade'highly elastic rubber, the fibers being distributed loosely through the body but extending mostly in the same direction therein and presenting their ends to the tread surface of the body, the fibers being bonded together elastically by the vulcanized rubber comprised in said bod A heel for boots and shoes comprising a tread-forming body composedof unwoven gum-dipped textile threads and highrade friction, the textile threads being distri uted loosely in the body and extending mostly inA the same direction therein and united elastica-lly by said friction in the body whereby the fibers may accommodate themselves to com ression ofthe body in the direction of t e length of the fibers, the fibers presentin their ends to the tread surface of the bo y.

4. A heel for boots and shoes comprising a lower tread-forming body and another body superposed thereon, each of said bodies being composed of unwoven textile threads distributed loosely through the respective body and extending mostly in the same direct-ion therein and high-grade, highly elastic friction bonding together the threads in cach body, the tread-forming body havingl u tread surface formed by the ends of' the threads and the friction composing it, the threads in the tread-forming body being elastically connected by the friction therein and thus rendered capable of free movement relatively to one another-to conform with compression of said body in the direction of the length of the threads by force' applied to the tread surface.

A heel for boots andshoes comprising a body composed of gum-dipped frictioned unwoven textile Fibers most of which extend in the same direction and are vulcanized together, said body having a tread surface the center of which treadsurface i's arched downwardly to produce a cushioning portion having a cavity above it.

6. A heel for boots and shoes comprising superposed bodies eachcomposed of gumdipped frictioned unwoven textile fibers most of which extend in the same direction in the respective bodies and are vulcanized together, one of said bodies ormin a tread surface to which the fibers in said ody are presented endwise, and the central portions of said bodies being arched downwardly, thus forming la cavity above such downwardly-arched portion and producing a cushioning action in said downwardly-arched portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES E. GRosJEAN.

surface of the heel, the maximum wearresisting properties of the material are utilized, and by arranging'the cords, threads or fibers in the upper or super-posed body. when used, so that they extend substantially parallel to the plane of the tread surface, secure anchorages for the attaching nails are provided which are capable of sustainingr forces tending to pull the nail heads through the upper portion of the heel, Owing to the large proportion of textile material coniposing the heel, the weight of the heel is substantially less than that of the usual rubber heels. and in consequence they will be more comfortable, and they will cause less fatigue to the wearer.

I claim as my invention 1. A heel for boots and shoesl comprising a tread-forming body made from rc1-claimed uncured tire material and composed of loose textile fibers and friction, most of the fibers extending in the same direction in said body and presenting their ends to the tread surface thereof, the friction being vulcanized and thus uniting the fibers elastically.

Q. A heel `for boots and shoes comprising a tread-forming body composed ofunwoven textile fibers and high-grade highly elastic rubber, the fibers being distributed loosely through the body but extending mostly in the same direction therein and presenting their ends to the tread surface of the body, the fibers being bonded together elastically by the vulcanized rubber comprised in said bod A heel for boots and shoes comprising a tread-forming body composed'of unwoven gum-dipped textile threads and high-grade friction, the textile threads being distributed loosely in the body Vand extending mostly in the same direction therein and united elasticallv by said friction in the body whereby the bers may accommodate themselves to com ression of the body in the direction of t e length ofv the fibers, the fibers presenting their ends to the tread surface of the body.

4. A heel for boots and shoes comprising a lower tread-forming body and another 'tie friction bonding together the threads in each body, the tread-forming body having a tread surface formed b v the ends of thc threads and the friction composing it, the threads in the tread-forming body being elastically connected by the friction therein and thus rendered capable of free movement relatively to one another-to conform with compression of said body in the direction of the length of the threads by force applied to the tread surface.

5. A heel for boots andshoes comprising a body composed of gum-dipped frictioned unwoven textile fibers most of which extend in the same direction and are vulcanized together, said body having a tread surface the center of which tread surface is arched downwardly to produce a cushioning portion having a cavity `above it.

6. A heel for boots and shoes comprising super-posed bodies each composed of gumdipped frictioned unwoven textile fibers most of which extend in the same direction in the respective bodies and are vulcanized together, one of said bodies forming a tread surface to which the fibers in said body are presented endwise, and the central portions of said bodies being arched downwardly, thus forming a cavity above such downwardly-arched portion and producing a cushioning action in said downwardly-arched portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES E. GROSJ EAN.

DISCLAIMER 1,650,511.James E. GrqsjeanQLimmOhig Hmm. ron Boo'rs .mv Snom. Patent dated November 22, 1927. Disclaimer filed October 15, 1940, by the assignee, The Lama Oord Sole i Heel Uompany.

Herelboy entersthisdsclaimertoclaims 1,2,nd4ofthes ecifi ti Jical Gazette November 12, 1940.] p ca on DISCLAIMER 1,650,511.-Jameav E. Grosjean, Lima,V Ohio. HEEL ron BOOTS AND SHOES. Patent dated November 22, 1927. Disclaimer filed October 15, 1940, by the assignee, The Lima Cord Sole da Heel Company. Hex-eb enters this disclaimer to claims 1,` 2, and 4 of the specification.

[ cal Gazette November 12?, 1.940.] 

